Automatic switch-throwing device.



O. J. G. RIUKERSON.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH THROWI-NG DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 2, 1909.

' Patented May 31, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

0 2 a o 2 1 i G. J. G. RIGKERSON. AUTOMATIC SWITCH THROWING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED $21 12, 1909.

959,884. Patented May 31, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATEN T OFFICE.

CLINTON J. G. RICKERSON, OF COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

AUTOMATIC SWITCH-THROWING DEVICE.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLINTON J. G. RIQKER- SON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and Stateof Colorado, have invented a new and useful Automatic Switch-ThrowingDevice, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of the invention are, generally, the provision, in ainerchantable form, of a device of the abovementioned class which shallbe inexpensive to manufacture, facile in operation, and devoid ofcomplicated parts; specifically, the provision of a head of novel andimproved construction, which, through its reciprocation, shall be ef-'fective to move a switch point from one position to another, novelmeans being provided for operatively connecting the head with the switchpoint, and for reciprocating the head; other and further objects beingmade manifest hereinafter as the description of the inventionprogresses.

The invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement ofparts hereinafter described, delineated in the accompanying drawing, andparticularly pointed out in that portion of this instrument whereinpatentable novelty is claimed for certain distinctive features of thedevice, it

eing understood, that, within the scope of what hereinafter thus isclaimed, divers changes in the form, proportions, size, and minordetails of the structure may be made, without departing from the spiritor sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Similar characters of reference are employed to denote correspondingparts throughout the several figures of the draw- Tn the accompanyingdrawing, Figure 1 shows my invention in top plan; Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, partly in section, of that portion of the device which islocated at one side of the right of way; Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection showing a connection which is carried by the trolley wire; Fig.4 shows the invention in side elevation, the View being designed to showthe manner in which the car operates to throw the switch point; Fig. 5is a detail perspective, upon an enlarged scale, of the movable head,and of the parts Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 2, 1909.

Patented May 31, 1910. Serial No. 515,812.

whereby the head is operatively connected with the switch point; Fig. 6is a detailed perspective of the shoe.

In the accompanying drawing, the numeral 1 denotes the main line rails,2 the siding rails, 3 the switch point, and 4 the guard rails.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a casing which is adapted to belocated, as shown in Fig. 1, preferably, between the rails, althoughanother location might be selected in particular instances, withprofitable results, and Without altering the essential features of thedevice, or changing its mode of operation. This casing comprises arelatively large chamber 5, located at one end of the casing, a smallerchamber 6, located at the other end of the casing, and a compartment 7,long and relatively narrow, connecting the chambers 5 and 6.Intermediate its ends, the compartment 5 is provided with a transverselydisposed partition 8 in which is slidably mounted a rod 9 enlarged atone end as denoted by the numeral 10, a compression spring 54:encircling the rod 9 intermediate the partition 8 and the enlargement 10of the rod. This enlarged portion 10 of the rod is apertured to receivea pin 20 rising from a head 11, adapted to reciprocate in thecompartment 7, longitudinally of the same, beneath guides 1 1, adaptedto engage outstanding flanges 12 upon the sides of the head 11.

Disposed toward the center of the head with respect to the flanges 12,and located upon either side of the head, are guideways l5 and 16,alined, longitudinally of the head, with other, shorter guideways 17 and18, the guideways 15 and 16 sloping upwardly as they approach theguideways l7 and 18, so that there is formed between the guideways 15and 17, a shoulder 57 and between the guideways 16 and 18, a shoulder58. Rising above the guideways 15, 16, 17 and 18, and constituting theculminating portion of the head 11, is a rib 55, provided withdiagonally disposed slots 19 and 56, intersecting in their intermediateportions, the slots, at one end opening upon the guideways 15 and 16,and at the other end opening upon the guideways 17 and 18, adjacent theshoulders 57 and 58.

Compartment 7 is separated from the chamber by means of a transverselydisposed partition 21, spaced from the bottom of the casing. Pivotedintermediate its ends, in the partition is a lever 22, located beneaththe partition in which it is pivoted. This lever 22 is shown in detailin Fig. and it will be seen that the same comprises two portions 23 and2d, the portion being spaced above the plane of the portion 2-3, theportions being alined, and rigidly unit-ed at their adjacent ends, by apivot pin, the up iier extremity 25 of which is pivotally niounted inthe partition 21. By thus fashioning the lever 22 in two parts, one ofwhich is disposed in a plane above the other, the switch-throwingmechanism which is as sembled with the portion 23 of the lever may bedisposed in a depressed position, and flush with the surface of thetrack.

The extremity of the portion 23 oi the lever which is adjacent the head11, is apertured, to receive, slidably and rotatably, a stub shaft 26,carrying its lower end, a shoe 27, which, as shown in Fig. 6, isprovided with pointed ends 28. The ends of the portion 24rot the leverwhich is disposed in the chamber 5, carries, pivotally connectedtherewith, a rider 29, having an upright extension which is apertured toreceive, slid-ably, a rod 31. Disposed about the rod 31, upon eitherside of the extension 80, are compression springs 33 and which are heldin place and adjusted by means of nuts 3%. One extremity of the rod 31is provided with an angle piece 32, the horizontally disposed portion ofwhich extends transversely through the guard rail 1, in slidingrelation, and is assembled in any suitable manner with the switch point3.

Extending laterally from the chamber 6 is a tube in which is slidablymounted a rod 61, one end of which is connected with a chain passingover a horizontally disposed segmental pullcy 37, into the con'ipartment7 of th casing. Extending from the opposite end of the rod 61 is a chain36 extending over a vertically disposed segmental pulley 39, mounted ina casing 40 disposed at the base of a pole 11. A tube d3 connects thecasing d0 with an upper casing 44;, mounted upon the pole, and in thistube 4-3 is slidably mounted a rod the lower end of which is assembledwith the chain 38. The upper end of the rod is connected with a core 45,adapted to reciprocate in a solenoid 116, located within the uppercasing a l. The core a5 is provided at its upper end with a laterallyextending head 4C7 which is adapted to be engaged by a shoulder 18extending across the lower end or the solenoid, so that the core may notfall therefrom. @ne end -19 of the wire which constitutes the solenoidis connected with the trolley wire 50, the other end 51 of the wirewhich forms the solenoid being provided assess with an anular contact52, adapted to inclose an insulation 53, inclosing a short portion ofthe trolley wire 50.

The numeral 61 denotes the guy wires whereby the trolley wire issupported, and the numeral the trolley pole, a car being indicatedconventionally, and denoted by the numeral 80.

Beginning at the switch point 3, I will now trace the operation of thedevice to the point where the element- 52 is engageable by the trolleywheel of the car to operate the switch. It is obvious that when the endof the portion 23 of the lever which carries the stub shaft 26 is movedlaterally in one direction, the rider 29, bearing against the spring 60,will draw the switch point 3 away from the siding rails so that the carmay take the siding; and that, when the end of the portion 28 of thelever which carries the stub shaft 26 is moved laterally in an oppositedirection, the rider 29, bearing against the spring 33, will push theswitch point 3 so that the car may continue along the main line 1.

In Figs. 1 and 5, the shoe 27 is shown as just entering the diagonalslot 19, a pull upon the rod 9 having just commenced. As this pull iscontinued, the spring 5 1 will be compressed, and the head 11 slidtoward the chamber 6. This sliding of the head 11 will cause the shoe 27to move in the slot 19 in the direction of the arrow a, tilting thelever 22 and throwing the switch point 3 from its main line position toits siding position. lVhen the shoe 27 has moved in the direction of thea .TOW a, to the end of the slot 19, the pointed end 28 of the shoe 27,engaging the wall of the compartment 7, will tilt the shoe 27 out of theslot 19, into a position upon, and alined with, the guideway 15. \Vhenthe rod 9 is released, the spring 5st will cause the head 11 to traveltoward the chamber 5, the shoe 27 moving in the direction of the arrow7) along the guideway 15, ultimately dropping behind the shoulder 57 andresting upon the guideway 17, the switchpoint 3 by pulling upon the rod9 and subsequently re leasing the same, being moved from its main lineto its siding position and there securely locked. When the rod 9 isagain drawn upon, the shoe 2'7, engaging the shoulder 57, as the headslides, will be deflected from the guideway 17 into the slot 56, movingalong the slot in the direction of the arrow (2, and, engaging with itspointed end 28, the wall of the compartment 7, be tilted out of the slot56, into a position upon, and in alinement with, the guideway 16. Thismovement of the shoe 27 from one end of the slot 56 to the other willmove the switchpoint 3 from its siding position to its main lineposition. hen the rod 9 is released, the spring 54: will cause the head11 to move toward the chamber 5, the shoe 27 moving along the guideway16 in the direction of the arrow d, and ultimately dropping be hind theshoulder 58, and upon the guideway 18, thus locking the switch point inits main line position. When the rod 9 is again drawn upon, the shoe 27,engaging the shoulder 58, will in its movement assume the position shownin Fig. 5 of the drawing, subsequently following the arrows a, b, c, andd, completing the cycle in the course of two successive pulls upon therod 9.

It is obvious that the rod 9 may be drawn upon in any desired manner tothrow the switch point, but it is one of the objects of this inventionto devise a means whereby as a trolley car approaches the switch, thehead 11 may be actuated electrically, to throw the switch point.

hen the trolley car is in the position shown in Fig. 4: of the drawing,the trolley wheel being in engagement with the annular member 52 whichsurrounds the insulation 53, the current will, during the time that thetrolley wheel is in en agement with the member 52, travel as shown bythe arrows, passing from the trolley wire 50 through the wire 49,through the solenoid 46, through the wire 51, into the trolley pole 75,and thence to the ground. lVhen the solenoid 46 is thus energized, itwill draw upwardly, the core 15, which, through the medium of the rod4:2, the chain 38, the rod 61, and the chain 36, will operate to exert apull upon the rod 9, sliding the head 11 toward the chamber 6. As soonas the trolley wheel has passed 01? the member 52, the solenoid 16 willbe demagnetized, and the core 45 will drop into the position shown inFig. 2 of the drawing, whereupon the spring 54: will be effective topush the head 11 toward the compartment 5.

From the foregoing description of the manner in which the trolley caroperates to throw the switch, it is obvious that the switch must bethrown, no matter, whether, upon the approach of the car, the switchpoint is in its main line position or in its siding position. In orderto overcome this difficulty, and to throw the switch point only when itis desired so to do, the motorman, before the trolley wheel engages themember 52, manipulates the controller to break the circuit through thetrolley car. In such case, the trolley car will pass by its mo mentumonly, across the member 52, where upon, when the trolley wheel haspassed over the member 52, the controller may again be manipulated toclose the circuit through the car and to actuate the motors. It isobvious that if the circuit through the car is thus opened when thetrolley wheel comes in contact with the member 52, there will be nocurrent flowing through the solenoid 56, the core 45 remaining in'theposition shown in Fig. 2, and the switch point, in its turn,

remaining undisturbed by the passage of the car. The springs 33 and 60serve to hold the switch point 3 yieldingly in position, so that it mayreadily be displaced by the flanges of the wheels of cars passing fromthe siding 2 out on to the main track 1.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protectby Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the class described, a switchpoint; a casing; a rod arranged to slide transversely of the casing andconnected with the switch point; a lever pivoted intermediate its endsin the casing and yieldingly connected at one end with the rod to movethe rod; a slotted head slidably mounted in the casing; means arrangedto engage the other end of the lever and to reciprocate in the slot ofthe head to tilt the lever; and means for operating the head.

2. In a device of the class described, a switch point; a casing; athreaded rod arranged to slide transversely of the casing and connectedwith the switch point; a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in thecasing and slidably connected at one end with the rod; compressionsprings carried by the rod upon either side of the lever; nuts upon therod to engage the compression springs; a slotted head slidably mountedin the casing; means arranged to engage the other end of the lever andto reciprocate in the slot of the head to tilt the lever; and means forop erating the head.

3. In a device of the class described, a switch point; a casing; a rodarranged to slide transversely of the casing and connect ed with theswitch point; a lever pivoted intermediate its ends in the casing; arider pivoted to one end of the lever and having an upright extension toslide upon the rod; compression springs carried by the rod on eitherside of the rider; means mounted upon the rod for adjusting the springs;a slotted head slidably mounted in the casing; means arranged to engagethe other end of the lever and to reciprocate in the slot of the head totilt the lever; and means for operating the head.

4. In a device of the class described, a casing; a lever comprisinglongitudinally alined members spaced vertically from each other, therebeing a pivot pin forming a rigid connection between the adjacent endsof the members and arranged to be received by the casing to forma-pivotal mounting for the lever; a rod slidably mounted in the casingtransversely of the same and connected with one end of the lever; aswitch point connected with the rod; a head slidably mounted in thecasing and arranged to engage the other end of the lever to tilt thesame; and means for operating the head.

5. In a device of the class described, a switch point; a casing; a leverpivoted intermediate its ends in the casing; a connection between theswitch point and one end of the lever; a slotted head. slidably mounted1 -.bl v in f in the casing; a shoe inounted rota the other end of thelever and arranged to move in the slot of the head; and means foroperating the head.

6. In a device or the class described, a er sing; a lever comprisinglongitudinally between one end of the lever and the su itch 1 point; aslotted head slidahly mount l. the casing; a shoe mounted for rota 1 theother end of the lever and rranged to travel in the slot or be head; andmeans 10 operating the head.

7. In a device of the class described a casing; a lever comprising ahnedmembers spaced vertica l7 from each ngitudinally 1 other, there being apivot pin forming a T rigid connection between the adjacent ends of themembers and arranged to be received by the casing to form a pivotalmounting for the lever; a slotted head arranged to re- 1 ciprocate inthe casing; a shoe pivotally connected with one end of the lever andarranged to travel in the slots of the head; a switch point; a rodtransversely mounted in the casing and connected with the switch point;a rider slidablv mounted upon the rod and connected with the other endof the lever; compression springs carried by the rod and arranged toengage the rider; means located upon the rod for adjusting the springs;and means for operating the head.

8. In a device of the class described, casing; a head arranged toreciprocate in the casing and provided in its upper face with diagonalslots intersecting in their intermediate portions, and with guidewaysupon sides connecting the ends of the slots; a lever pivotedintermediate its ends in the casing; a shoe pivoted to one end of thelever and arranged to traverse the slots and the guideways; a switchpoint; connection between the switch point and the other end of thelever; and means for operating the head.

9. In a device of the class described a cas- '1 ing; a head slidablymounted in t and provided in its upper face with diagonal slotsintersecting at their intermediate portions, and with guideways upon itssides connecting the ends of the slots the as casing 1 in eases iguideways at one end oft the head being other spaced below the guidewaysat the out of the head to form shoulders; a lever pivoted in itsintermediate portion to the casing; a switch point; a connection between the switc 1 point and one end. of the lever; a shoe mounted in theother end of the lever for vertical and for rotatory movement, the shoebeing arranged to traverse the slots and the guidewa and to be engagedby the shoulders ior deflection from the guideways into the slots; andmeans for operating "the head.

10. in a derice of the class described, a casing; a head arra ged toreciprocate in the casing and provided in its upper face with diagonalslots intersecting in their intermediate portions, and with gu dewaysupon its sides connecting the ends of the slots the guideways at one end01" the head being spaced below the guideways at the other end thereofto {01111 shoulders; a shoe arranged to traverse the slots and theguideways and engageable by the shoulders for deflection from theguideways into the slots; a switch point; means operatively connectingthe shoe with the switch point to throw the latter upon the movement 01the former; and means for rec'procating the head.

11. in a device of the class described a casing; a head arranged toreciprocate in the casing and provided in its upper face with diagonalslots intersecting in their intermediate portions and with guide-waysupon its sides comiecting the ends of the slots; and a mend er foroperating a switch point, arranged to traverse the slots and theguide-ways.

12. in a device of the class described, a casing; a head arranged torec'procate in the casing and provided in its upper face with diagonalslots intersecting in their intermediate portions and with guide-waysupon its sides connecting the ends or the slots the guide-ways at oneend of the head being spaced below the guide-ways at the other endthereof to form shoulders; and a member for operating a switch point,arranged to traverse the slots and the guideways, and. engageable by theshoulders for deflection from the guide-ways into the slots.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto attiredmy signature the presence of two witnesses.

CLINTON J. G. RiCKERSON. il itnesses J. F. Scr-rno'r'rnn, L. NOBLE.

